Eric Bledsoe is the top free agent still available on the market at this time, but it’s not necessarily his skill set or extremely high asking price that’s keeping teams from coming at him with a realistic offer for his services.

Bledsoe is a restricted free agent, which means the Suns have the right to match any offer he receives — and that complicates things, somewhat substantially.

In the early days of free agency, teams are leery of signing players with Bledsoe’s status to offer sheets because those cap dollars can’t be spent elsewhere while the Suns take up to 72 hours to decide whether or not to match. Other available players get gobbled up during that time, and at the end of it all, the team that went out and extended the offer sheet may have nothing to show for it if the player’s current club ends up matching.

Bledsoe remains unsigned, and Phoenix seem to be in no hurry to do so. He knows it’s all part of the process, but still feels like the Suns are using restricted free agency to their advantage.

Bledsoe can be seen making these remarks on video, and he doesn’t come across as angry or bitter about the way things have unfolded. But he is absolutely right.

It’s unclear just how close Bledsoe may have gotten with other teams on an offer sheet, but honestly, the Suns would like nothing more for him to sign a four-year max offer from another team. That would get them out of having to discuss a five-year deal near the max, which is what Bledsoe and his agent have been pushing for at this stage of the negotiations.

Bledsoe does have a sort of nuclear option with all of this if he’s truly bothered by his situation. He could play next season on a one-year qualifying offer, and then pursue life as an unrestricted free agent the following summer, when he could sign with anyone of his choosing, and without the Suns being able to interfere in the slightest.

But Bledsoe has had injury issues that have limited him in two of his four NBA seasons, and can’t really afford another one in a contract year without any future financial security in place. The Suns are offering four years, $48 million, but Bledsoe’s team is looking for the full five-year, $80 million max. Someone has to give in at some point, but because Bledsoe is accurate in his assessment that Phoenix has the rules of restricted free agency on its side, it probably won’t be the Suns.

You probably answered “the Clippers.” Most fans do. So do most NBA referees — And everyone else. Which is why after a recent loss to Golden State, veteran Marreese Speight (a Warrior last season) pointed to the Clippers complaining about the officiating as part of the problem.

He went on to say that the scouting report is you can get in the Clippers’ heads by knocking them around a little. Which seems pretty obvious when you watch teams play them. Shockingly, Clippers coach Doc Rivers disagrees with that. Via NBCLosAngeles.com.

“The officiating thing, I don’t think, is our issue. I will say that,” said Rivers about the technical fouls. “If that were the problem, then, Golden State would be struggling. They’ve been No. 2 the last two years in techs, too. I think we need to point fingers in another direction than that.”

Doc may not like it, but Speights is right.

The Warriors do complain too much, but they also have a ring so more is forgiven. The problem for the Clippers is that reputation for complaining starts with Rivers — he complains as much or more than any coach in the league. Then it filters down through Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.

Is it fair that more is forgiven with winning? Moot question. Welcome to America. The Clippers complain a lot and have yet to get past the second round with this core. And at times there standing there complaining to the referees does get in the way of them getting back into defense, and they seem to go in a funk.

The Pelicans are disappointing this season — it is Anthony Davis vs. the world down there. Which is the main reason they are 7-16 this season. While things have gotten better since Jrue Holiday‘s return, Davis is averaging a league-best 31.4 points per game, it then drops off to Holiday at 15.4, and then E'Twaun Moore at 11.1.

When a team struggles, usually that is a bad sign for the coach. Not because it’s always their fault, but because GMs choose not to fire themselves for poor roster construction. Which leads to the question: Alvin Gentry, are you concerned about your job? (Warning, NSFW)

New Orleans’ struggles are not on Gentry, certainly not completely. He’d like a roster that can play uptempo, that has depth. What he got instead was a good point guard, an elite 4/5, a rookie in Buddy Hield that maybe pans out down the line, and then… nada. And the roster Gentry has often is banged up.

If anyone is in trouble, it is GM Dell Demps. Remember, Danny Ferry was hired last summer for the vague role of “special advisor.” Gentry is in his second year, and the issue is the roster he was given. But the Pelicans are a patient organization that values continuity, so… who knows. But the clock is ticking on Davis;, it’s years away, but the Pelicans need to build a team around him and are far from that right now.

Jones told the Beacon Journal he will retire after next season, which will be his 15th in the NBA. His ultimate dream is to ride off after three consecutive championships in Cleveland

“I know playing 15 years is a number where I can look back and I can be like, ‘I accomplished something,’ ” Jones said. “Fourteen vs. 15 may not be much, but to be able to say I played 15 years, that’s enough for me to hang ’em up.”

Jones’ contract expires after the season, so the Cavs will have a say in whether he returns. Safe to say if LeBron wants him back, Jones will be back.

But the Heat got into trouble relying on washed-up veterans around LeBron, wasting valuable roster spots on players who could no longer contribute.

Is that Jones? Not yet. Though he’s out of the rotation, he has still made 11-of-12 open 3-pointers this season. There’s a role for him as spot-up shooter when Cleveland needs one.

Still, the Cavaliers ought to be mindful of Jones’ likely decline over the next year and a half. Plus, it’s not a certainty he holds to his timeline. Cavs veterans have a history of changing their mindon retirement.